A/66/313 34. While the socio-economic marginalization and exclusion of Roma was one of the most frequent manifestations of the racism and racial discrimination they faced, Roma were also victims of discrimination in the enjoyment of their civil and political rights. Indeed, in a number of countries, Roma were discriminated against in their access to citizenship, and they were still widely excluded from the public and political life of many countries, where they remained underrepresented or not represented at all in States’ public administration and institutions, or in political parties. The Special Rapporteur also noted with concern that Roma were discriminated against in access to justice, including in the criminal justice system, where discriminatory attitudes by prosecutors, excessive delays in dealing with cases brought by Roma and racial profiling by the police were reported. 35. Violence against Roma by private and public actors remains a serious and increasing problem in many countries. In this context, the Special Rapporteur highlighted abuse and violence against Roma by the police, the rise of extremism which increased Roma vulnerability to racist violence, and the persistence of racist and xenophobic discourse against Roma by public officials and politicians, including high-ranking State officials. 36. The situation of Roma migrants who face double discrimination as Roma and non-citizens was also raised with concern by the Special Rapporteur. He noted that the poverty they experienced in their country of origin, as well as racism, racial discrimination and marginalization, often helped to explain their emigration. Furthermore, for several years Roma migrants had frequently been targeted by security policies and discourse that had sometimes resulted in their expulsions. In that regard, the Special Rapporteur expressed his concern about the targeted expulsion of Roma migrants, including to countries where they were likely to face discrimination. He called upon States to respect the rights of Roma migrants as guaranteed by the relevant regional and international human rights instruments. 37. While assessing the reasons for racial discrimination and racism against Roma remained complex, the Special Rapporteur stressed that three main factors, which should not be considered as exhaustive, might explain the persistence of such a situation. They included the lack of participation of Roma in decision-making processes, the lack of implementation of policies and legislation targeting Roma, and the structural dimension of the racism and racial discrimination they faced. In that regard, the Special Rapporteur also underlined that Roma were confronted with institutionalized discrimination reflected both in legislation, policies and administrative measures, and in the discriminatory attitudes of State officials. He emphasized the need for States to ensure that the behaviour of their agents complied with their international human rights obligations. 3. Discrimination based on work and descent, including discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 38. The Special Rapporteur has repeatedly raised the negative impact of discrimination based on work and descent on the full enjoyment of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights. He reaffirms that States have to recognize that discrimination on the ground of descent constitutes a form of racial discrimination prohibited by the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The Special Rapporteur has associated himself with the position taken by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination which 11-45818 11